It began as an entertainment: eight people, many of them enemies, gathered for a winter weekend by a host with a love for theatre. They would be the characters in a drama that he would devise. It ended in snowbound disaster. Everyone had an alibi, and most a motive as well. But Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn, when he finally arrived, knew it all hung on Thomas, the dancing footman. Download and start listening now!

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Listener Opinions

Steven | 12/20/2013

" Marsh has a wonderful sense for setting and exhibits skill in her characterization. As a writer, she offers much to be admired; as a mystery writer, less so. I guessed much of the solution well before it was all over. The story takes place in an English country mansion where Jonathan Royal has gathered some guests for a weekend party knowing full well that each of the guests has reason to hate at least one of the others. His mischievous motive, as he describes it, is to create a sort of performance piece for his playwright friend to record. Unfortunately, things go horribly wrong when a snow storm hits and unexplained attacks on the guests begin to occur, culminating in one of the guests being murdered. Halfway through the book, Scotland Yard detective Roderick Alleyn finally makes an appearance and pieces together the solution. Marsh's talent is for creating an atmosphere of claustrophobia and paranoia among the snowbound guests, stranded amidst the dreary winter landscape. The writing is splendid, the action well-paced and the characters well-developed, although the ending was a disappointment and not entirely plausible. "

Dave | 8/2/2013

" Marsh seems always to be compared to Christie, but she's a much better writer. This is an excellent snowbound houseparty murder mystery, with much realer characters and more realistic plot than Christie would do. Slightly too long and repetitive, but very readable. "

Lesley | 7/30/2013

" Don't know what I'll do when this series is done! On number 12 of a 31 book series "

Judy | 7/8/2013

" Published in 1942, this book is from one of the "queens" of the golden age of mysteries. A number of highly unpleasant people are invited to a country house weekend. The host knows that everyone at the party has at least one secret and a rivalry with at least one of the other guests. Once everyone has arrived, there is a large snowstorm that isolates the house. Delicious. Of course, a murder is commited and someone in the house is guilty. Double Delicious. Everyone seems to have an alibi, but the the footman who couldn't resist dancing for a minute or two in the hall to a song playing on the wireless in the library might just hold the key to events. Enjoyable. "

Kirsty Walker | 6/20/2013

" First Ngaio Marsh I read and it is a great 'country house murder'. Plus, nasty way to be killed. Yikes. "

Laura | 6/20/2013

" Just arrived from USA. Madame Marsh has an unique style of writing suspense stories. "

Andrea | 4/15/2013

" What I'd call a 'solid' Marsh. Not quite enough here to love, but interesting and enjoyable. Alleyn only makes an appearance at the end of the book, effortlessly uncovering an 'obvious' murderer. "

MaryK Audiobook | 1/24/2013

" I have the recording by James Saxon. "

Brainorgan | 7/6/2011

" Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh (1998) "

Vickie | 4/27/2011

" Not one of her best.... "

Moira | 1/25/2009

" One of the better ones, I have all of her books but one and can't find it. "

Emily Klein | 9/8/2007

" This is my favorite Ngaio Marsh even though Troy and Alleyn have only a relatively minor role in it. Very classic British mystery - a group of people in a an English manor for a weekend party are snowed in and one is murdered. "

Jessie | 3/20/2007

" Marsh is underappreciated. Even though I pegged the killer early, there were other plausible options and the writing is pleasing. "

Other Titles by Ngaio Marsh:

About the Author

Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), born in New Zealand, wrote over thirty detective novels. Many of her stories had theatrical settings, as her real passion was for the theater. She was both an actress and a producer and almost single-handedly revived the New Zealand public’s interest in live theater. In 1966 she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

About the Narrator

James Saxon’s (1955–2003) long acting career included roles in such television series as Doctor Who, Tales from the Crypt, and Vanity Fair.

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